John chary a



(No Model.)

-J. OHARVA. TAIL PIECE FOR ZITHERS.

No. 452,361. Patented May 19,1891.

WITNESSES; INVENTUR QQQAM-MQW UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN CHARVA, OF NEIV YORK, N. Y.

TAIL-PIECE FOR ZITHERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 452,361, dated May 19, 1891.

Application filed January 22, 1891. Serial No. 378,632. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN OHARVA, of New York city, New York, have invented an Improved Tail-Piece for Zithers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved tailpiece for zithers, in which the pins that hold the ends of the strings are entirely concealed by a folding lid. In this way the pins are protected from becoming bent or otherwise injured and the fingers cannot by accident come into contact with them.

The invention consists in the various features of improvement more fully pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top View of part of a zither, showing the lid closed over the tail-piece; Fig. 2, a similar view, partlyin section, with the lid open; Fig. 3, an end View of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4, a crosssection on line 0c 00, Fig. 2.

The letter a represents the sounding-board of azither, a the base-plate, and?) the strings. These strings pass over a notched bridge 0, and are thence fastened to pins or pegs (Z projecting rearwardly from the back of the zither, Fig. 4.

I provide the zither with two rearwardlyprojecting lugs e, one at the right and one at the left end. Between these lugs the baseplate a is rearwardly extended, as at a To the lugs e there is hinged a lid 1", that carries on topa concave plate f in which the fingers may rest. When the lid is swung upward, it covers the pins d entirely, and the top plate f projects over the rear or slotted part of the bridge 0, Without, however, coming into contact with the strings. I prefer to hinge the lid f to the lugs e by means of a pair of laterally-projecting pins f on the lid entering longitudinal slot e on the inner face of the lugs. Thus the lid has a slight up-and-down play that allows it to rise off extension a while being revolved.

In order to hold the lid in its upright or closed position, it is provided with two catches g, that are pivoted to and project laterally from the lid. These catches fit into notches cut into the ends of the bridge, Fig. 3. Through each notch there extends a pin t, that is grasped by the catch and holds the same in firm engagement with the bridge.

It will be seen that the parts 6 a constitute, in effect, a box, open at the top and back, which projects to the rear of the tail-piece of the zither. The lid, with its top plate f, is

' adapted to close this open top and back, so as to form a box that is closed entirely, excepting Where the strings are admitted. In this way the ends of the strings, the bridge, and

the pegs are properly protected and a very convenient rest is provided for the fingers.

lVhat I claim is- 1. The combination, in a zither, of a base at, having rearward extension 65", with lugs e at the sides of such extension, a lidf, hinged be tween lugs e, and a finger-plate f, secured to lid f, substantially as specified.

2. The combination of a zither having bridge 0 and rearwardly-projecting lugs e With a pivoted lid f, having top plate f and pivoted to the lugs e, and with catches 9, sub stantially as specified.

JOHN OHARV A.

itnesses:

F. v. BRIEsEN, A. J ONGHMANS. 

